Potential Biomarkers for Colorectal Adenoma Revealed

Mimecan downregulation and TXNDC5 upregulation were observed.!--h2>

A team of Chinese researchers report that they have found a particular molecular mechanism underlying adenoma, the precursor lesion of colorectal cancer. “This study found two novel proteins that have never been found to be associated with colorectal cancer,” states Yinghong Wang, the first author of the study.

The scientists from Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, uncovered 27 differentially expressed proteins using two dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Western-blot analysis validated mimecan downregulation and TXNDC5 upregulation in colorectal adenomas and cancers, according to the group.

“We clearly demonstrated that absence of mimecan and upregulation of TXNDC5 were involved in the early development of colorectal cancer,” according to Wang. “Our further work showed that mimecan can inhibit cell growth and induce cell apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells implying a candidate role as a tumor suppressor gene for the mimecan gene. These results suggested that mimecan might serve as a potential biomarker for future gene therapy.”

The research article describing this work will appear in the October issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine.